Filling-end-clearing mechanism for weft-replenishing looms



P. Kl-:EGAN

sept. 15. 1925.

FILLING END' CLEARING KEGKANISM FOR 'EFT REYLENISHING LOUIS Filed April 2s. 1924 Z Sheets-$heet 1 EZ W uw www. l .om E .nl WIN. .NN E P\. N M V. U MVN. T mw ATN n O m m /Mm. 1 5 W Y n my b.

Sept. l5, 1925.

P. KEEGAN FILLING END CLEARING MECHANISM FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOKS 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed April23, 1924 I .IFM/ENTE:

*IV/fil. /TTDRNEY- Patented Sept. l5, 1925.

PATRICK KEEGAN, OF FALLyRIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

FILLING-END-CLIEARINGr MECHANISM FOR WEET-REPLENISHING LOOMS.

Application filed April 23, 1924. Serial No. 708,550.Y i

To all 'whom t may concern.' v

Be it known that I, PATRICK KEEGAN, a citizen of the United States, Fall River, county of Bristol, Stateof Massachusetts, have invented a certain newl and useful Improvement in Filling-End-Clearing Mechanism for Weft-Replenishing Looms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to weft replenishing looms, and particularly to the mechanism for controlling the loose rend of the weft or filling remaining on an exhausted bobbin or equivalent filling carrier when the latter is discharged from the shuttle by the weft replenishing mechanism, in order to prevent said loose end from being drawn into the cloth by the shuttle. has for its general object to provide mechanism of this character which will operate to sweep the loose weft end away fiom the lay and securely clamp the same, said mechanism being universally adjustable to adapt the same to the requirements of 'any particular loom, being arranged to clamp the filling thread yieldingly Vso as to hold the same securely irrespective of its size, and having provision wherebyy 'the same is capable of yielding. in order to avoid injury thereto in case of accidental obstruction as, for example, should a bobbin accidentally fall between the same and the lay.

The foregoing and'other objects of the invention, togetherv with means whereby the same may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following description of oneL form or embodiment thereof illustiated in the accompanying drawings. It will beunderstood, however, that the particular construction described and shown has been chosen for illustrative purposes merely, and that the invention,y as defined by the claims hereunto appended, may be otherwise practised wit-hout departure from `the spirit and scope thereof. a

In said drawings: n Fig. 1 is a front elevation, Fig. 9. a plan partly broken away, and Fig. 3 an end yelevationf of one end of the front of a loom having the invention applied thereto.

Fig. Llis a de'tail sec-tion taken substantially on the line 1 -4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the line 5-5,Figs. 1 and 2,. v

residing at The invention f j ustabl rounding Figs. 6 and 7 are detail sections taken substantially on the lines 6*-6, Fig. 3,fshow ing the parts in different positions.

Fig. 8 is a detail plan view illustrating the adjustable mounting of the cam plate on the lay. y i

The invention is herein shown as applied to a weft replenishing loom of well-known type. 15 denotes the breast beam constituting part of the frame and supported by end frame members one of which is shown at 16 in Fig. 3. 17 denotes the lay, 18 (Fig. 3) the shuttle, and 19 the picker stick. The bobbin magazine of the weft replenishiiig mechanism is indicated in dotted lines at 20, the bobbin transferrer at 21, the transferrer spring at 22 and the chute plate constituting the bobbin chute at 23. The breast beam rock shaft through which the weft replenishing mechanism is controlled by the feeler mechanism (not shown)r is :indicated at The parts thus `far referred to arev 2,9 of the upper section 290 of a hanger theV lower vsection 291 of which is adjustably separts hereinafter cured to said upper section by bolts 36 and guide 31. Mounted in the guide 31 for movement in a direction at right angles to .the breast beam'and lay, orin the direction of movement of the latter, is a 'slide 32 normally pressed toward they lay and held in `the position-shown in the drawings by a spring 33 (see particularly Fig. 5) sura stein 34 projecting' rearwardly from said slide and guided in anopening'in a fiange 35 on the guide 31. `The spring 33 is interposed between the flange 35 and they rear end of the slide 32the normal position of which, under the influence of said spring, is Vdetermined by the engagement of a slioulder formed by the forwardend of the stein d 34 withashouldei 3K8 on the guide The To the lower hanger section 291 is ady secured, as by a screw bolt 30,` a`

mechanism for controlling the loose weft end is carried by the slide 32 and is therefore yieldingly mounted on the frame, so as to avoid injury to said :mechanism should any obstruction, suchasa bobbin, accidentally iind its way between the saine and the lay.

Rigid'ly secured to or formed integral with the slide 32 is a horizontal holder plate 39 having associated therewith a second, spaced, parallel holder plate 40. Said plates are separated by a spacing block 41 (see particularly Fig. 4) and are connected at their ends by studs 42 and 43 provided with springs 44 v(see also Fig. 5) and 45, whereby said plates are yieldingly pressed toward one another to an extent permitted by the spacing block 41. The holder plates 39 and 40 are disposed at an angle to the lay, said plates having their rear ends closely adjacent the lay when the latter is in its foremost position, as shown in Fig. 2, and diverging therefrom so as to leave between the vsame Yand the bobbin chute 23 suilicient space for the discharge of an exhausted bobbin 46.

Pivoted on the stud 42 between the holder plates 39 and 40 is a bell crank 14 one arm 47 of which normally occupies a position between said plates but is adapted to be swung out of its normal position into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, in which its end is received in a slot 4S in the bobbin chute 23. Mechanism (hereinafter described) is provided whereby, when the weft replenishing mechanism vis rendered operative, under the control of the rock shaft 24, to discharge an exhausted bobbin, the arm 27 is, as the lay moves forwardly, swung into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby permitting the eX- hausted bobbin 46 to drop in front of said arm. Thereafter, as the lay starts to move rearwardly, the arm 47 is swung forwardly away from the lay across the bobbin chute, sweeping vthe weft 49 of the discharged bobbiny away from the shuttle, and clamping the same between said arm and the holder plates 39 and 40. It will be observed that this weft engaging movement of the arm 47 is away from the lay and shuttle, thereby removing the loose weftfendfrom the latter and securely clamping the same, so as to avoid any possibility of its being drawn into the cloth by the shuttle. By reason of the yielding mounting of the holder plates 39 and 40, the weft is securely clamped irrespective of its size.

The other 'arm 50 of the bell crank 14 has pivotally connected thereto a rod 51 Lguided in an opening in a bracket 52 projecting from the holder plate`39. A spring 53 surrounds the rod 51 and is interposed between the bracket 52 and va collar 54 on said rod, said spring tending normally to hold the arm 47 in its clamping position vbetween the holder plates 39 and 40, and contributing to the yielding clamping action of the parts. The arm is formed at its end with a boss or hub in which is guided a vertically sliding stud 56 having a head 57 between which and the upper end of the hub is interposed a spring 58 tending normally to hold said stud in the elevated position shown in Fig. 6. The head 57 of the stud 56 is engaged by the rear end of a lever 59 pivoted at 60 to the hanger section 291, said rear end being limited as to its upward movement by a stop 61 carried by the guide 31. The lever 59 is formed with a Vcamshaped forward end 62 which is engaged by an angular-ly offset arm 63 on a rod 64. The rod 64 is adjustably secured, as by set screws 65, in the hollow end 66 of a crank 67 having a hub 68 adjustably connected with the end of the breast beam rock shaft 24 lby a coupling sleeve 68 and set screws 69. The lay 17 is provided with a forwardly extending lug 7 O (see Figs. 6, 7 and 8) to which is secured, by means of a bolt 71, a cam plate 72. rlhe lug` 7 0 and cam plate 72 are formed with slots through which the bolt 71 passes, said slots being disposed at. right angles vto one another, thereby permitting the cam plate 72 a substantially universal adjustment in a horizontal plane. 1When the st'ud 56 is in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 6, it is out of the path of movement of the cam plate 72, but when the lever 59 is rocked on its pivot, it will depress said stud into the position shown in Fig. 7, so as to cause said stud to be engaged by the cam plate 72 when the lay moves forward. The stud 56 and cam plate 72 are formed with interengaging shoulders 7 23 and 74, whereby when said stud is engaged by said cam plate, it will be held in depressed position until disengaged thereby by the rearward movement of the lay irrespective of the position of the lever 59.

During the normal operation of the loom, the stud 56 occupies the inoperative position shown in Fig. 6, and the arm 47 is held by the spring 53 between the holder plates 39 and 40. Then the controller shaft 24 of the weft replenishing mechanism is rocked by the feeler mechanism preparatory to the discharge of an exhausted bobbin from the shuttle and the substitution of a filled one, as will be familiar to those skilled in the art, the angular arm 63 on the rod 64, by engagement with the end 62 of the lever 59, rocks the latter on itspivot, thereby depressing the stud 56 into the position shown in Fig. 7. When the lay moves forward, the stud 56 is engaged on the cani 72, and the bell crank 14 is rocked, moving the arm 47 into they position shown by dotted Alines in Fig. 2. The transferrer then operates, in the usual manner, to discharge the eX- hausted bobbin 46 from the shuttle and lay,

and said bobbin falls down the bobbin chute in front of the arm 47. VAs the lay moves rearwardly, the stud 56 is disengaged by the cam plate 72,-permitting the spring 53 to sweep the arm 47 forwardly across the bobbin chute, carrying the loose weft end 49 away from the lay andclamping the same between the holder plates 39 and 40.

In order to prevent the weft end from slipping from the end of the arm 47 as the latter is swung forwardly,there is provided a curved guide 75 the rear end of which is secured to the lay or, preferably, to the bobbin chute plate 23 `which Vin turn is secured to thek lay, Vsaid guide engaging the weft and preventing movement thereof along the arm 47 to a sufficient extent to slip from the end of the latter. It will be observed that the angular position of the holder plates 39 and 40 and the curved form of the guide 75 provide ample space in front of the chute plate 23 for the downward passage of the discharged bobbin in front of the arm 47 when the latter is in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.-2. In order to prevent the collection of waste on the arm 47, the latter is preferably of a tapered'form which tends to throw olf the waste ratherthan to retain the same, the guide 75, which is preferably located above the path of the said arm, preventing the weft from being thrown therefrom, as above explained; y

Having thus described my invention, I claim: Y i y 1.In a` weft replenishing loom, in combination with the lay and the weft replenishing mechanism, of mechanism for removing the weft of a discharged bobbin from the lay and clamping the same, said mechanism including a pair of spaced holder plates, a`

weft engaging arm, a spring for moving said arm between said plates lto clamp the weft, and means operated by the lay and controlled by the' replenishing mechanism to move said arm away from said plates.

2. In a loom, the combination with the lay and the weft replenishing mechanism, of mechanism for removing the weft of a discharged bobbin from the lay and clamping the same, said mechanism including a pair of spacedholder plates, means for yieldingly forcing said plates toward one another, and

f an arm, movable between said plates to clamp the weft.k

' 3. In a loom, the combination with the lay and the weft replenishing mechanism, of mechanism for removing the weft of a discharged bobbin from the lay and clamping the same, said mechanism including a pair of holder plates, a spacing member between said plates, springs co-operating with the ends of said plates to force the same to- Vstud into the ward one another, and an arm movable between said plates to clamp the weft.

4. In a weft replenishing loom, the combination with the breast beam, the lay, the shuttle, and' the; weft replenishing n mechanism, of a bracket carried by the breast beam, a slide guided on said bracket for movement in the direction of movement of the lay, a spring for forcing said slide toward the lay, co-operating shoulders on said bracket and slide for limiting the movement of the latter toward the lay, and mechanism carried by said slide and operated by the.

lay for removing the weft of a discharged bobbin from the shuttle. l

5. In a weftfreplenishing loom, the combination with the lay, the shuttle, andthe weft replenishing mechanism, of means for removing the weft of a discharged bobbin from the shuttle, a cam plate on the lay, a movable stud through which said weftremoving means is operated by said cam plate, and means controlled by said weft replenishing mechanism for moving said path of movement of said cam plate. t

6. Ina weftreplenishing loom, the combination with the lay, the shuttle, the weft chute through which theexhausted bobbinsy are discharged by said replenishing mechanism, of a bell crank having an arm movable across `said chute to remove the weft of a discharged bobbin from the shuttle, a cam plate on the lay, a stud slidably mounted on the other arm of said bell crank, and means controlled by the weft replenishing mechanismL for moving vsaid stud into the path of movement of said cam plate.

7. In a weft replenishing loom, the combination with the lay, the shuttle, and the weft replenishing mechanism including the feeler controlled rock shaft, of means operated by the lay for removing the weft of a dislfrom the shuttle, a cam plate on the lay,

a movable stud through which'said weft removingmeans is operated by said cam plate, a lever for operating said stud, and an arm on the rock shaft for operating said lever.

In testimony whereof I atlixV my signature.

` PATRICK KEEGAN. 

